System



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ELBGTRIGAL DANGER SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Patented No'v. 2'7, 1894.

3mm 35am Piua217,:

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.) 7

:ELEGTRIGAL DANGER SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Patented Nov. 27, 1894.

' 6 $heetsSheet 3..

'(No Model.)

W. A. PHILLIPS. ELECTRICAL DANGER SIGNALING SYSTEM.

No. 529,949. Pate nted Nov. 27, 1894.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets8heet 4.

W. A; PHILLIPS.

ELEGTRIGAL DANGER SIGNALINGSYSTEM.

(No Model.) e Sh eetsSheet' s.

W. A. PHILLIPS. ELECTRICAL DANGER SIGNALING SYSTEM. 1

No. 529,949. PatentedNov. 27, 1894.

11. 1; 1, atfozww UNITED- STATES P TENT OFF CE.

I/VILLIAM A. PHILLIPS, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

ELECTRICAL DANGER-SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 529,949, dated November 27,1894. Application'filed May 29, 1893- Serial No.475,914- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. PHILLIPS, second lieutenant Twenty-third Infantry,

United States Army, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Keogh, in the county of Custerand State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Danger-Signaling Systems; and I The object of the invention is to providev improved means by which alarms are sounded from a train on one block to a train or trains -on either or both the adjacent blocks, the

alarms being sounded on all the trains, whether they are standing still, or approaching toward or receding from each other.

It is also an object to provide improved means for signaling to an approaching train that a switch is open; also to provide an im-- proved switch board for use on the trains and at a station, whereby signals may be transmitted from a train or trains to the station,

and by which the operator at the station can ascertain in which direction a train'is approaching or whether a switch is open, and also by which the operator on a train can tell whether an alarm sounded on his train comes from a train on an adjacent block or from an 4 open switch.

There are other objects and advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

. The invention consists essentially in three 7 .parallel conductors for each block, arranged the other or bell conductors are two brushes on the locomotive which are electrically connected with an electric bell, also connected with the ground or return conductor. Interposed in the circuit between the bell and battery is a switch board by means of which the engineer can ascertain whether the alarms sounded by the hell are produced by a train on an adjacent block, by an open switch, or come from the station, the station being supplied with a similar board in electric-communication with a battery and bell and with the said battery and bell conductors. There is also an improved switch bar which when a switch is open will establish a circuit between the same and the station and an approaching train. The said improvements will be hereinafter fully set forth in detail and specifically pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 shows in diagram and elevation the manner of establishing a circuit between two trains and with a train and station according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a signaling system according to my invention. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the invention applied to a switch. .Fig. 4 is an elevation showing my improved switch board. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the switch board showing the binding posts located and arranged somewhat differently. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing my improved signal as applied to a railroad crossing. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the switch board. Figs. 8 and 9 are views showing how the brushes are supported. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail plan and side views, respectively, of one of thebrushes, on an enlarged scale.

In the said drawings, referring now more especially to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown three block sections of a railway, numbered respectively, Block No. 1,? Block No. 2, and Block No. 3. In each of these sections centrally between the rails, is a battery conductor z, z, 2 and at each side thereof are bell conductors x, m, 00 and y, y, 3 the conductor m, being electrically connected to 2' by connection It; conductor z by connection h with y; conductor 00 by k .with 2 2 by h with f, and so on throughout all the blocks of the road. Contacting with these conductors are brushes which establish circuit be tween the same and the train. These conductors, in practice, will be in the form of chains or brushes connected with the battery and bell in locomotive cab, as will be hereinafter more fully described, but in Figs. 1 and 2, they are simply shown as wires. The wires c, which contact with the central track couductors lead to binding post A on the locomotive and from thence pass to the battery P, awiref connecting the batterywith ground conductor t. The conductors c and 0 which contact respectively with the bell conductors, connect with an ordinary electric bell B in the cab which in turn is connected with ground wire t, by return wire g.

The operation of the parts so far described is as follows: Supposing that a train is on block No.2, and that another train enters block No.1, as soon as the conductor 0 of this last mentioned train contacts with the conductor 2 then a circuit will be established from the battery of this train through conductors a, h, 11 c and bell B of train on block No. 2, sounding an alarm thereon, and from thence through g and ground conductor t, back to battery. In like manner an alarm will be sounded from train on block No. 2, to train on block 1, the circuit being from battery of the train on block 2, through 0,2, w, c, to hell on train on block No. 1, g and 25, back to battery. It will thus be seen that battery on one train sounds the alarm or rings the bell of the other train. In a similar manner alarms will be sounded by a train on block No. 3, and the alarms will be sounded whether all the trains are moving or if one be stationary, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the inven tion pertains.

1 will now describe the means for sounding an alarm when a switch is open.

Referring to Fig. 3, in which the battery and bell conductors are placed outside the rail instead of between them as before described, the letters S, S, designate the main track rails, and t, t, the switch rails. Connected with said rails S, S, is a switch bar 23 provided with the usual operating lever. The free end of this switch bar is provided with an extension forming a conductor :5 provided with conducting arms m y 2 which when the switch is open will contact respectively with the said battery and bell conductors. Supposing now that the switch shown in Fig. 3, was connected with block No. 2, and a train was approaching from block No. 1, then the operation would be as follows: Circuit would be established through battery P, conductors c, a, la, y, .2 1?, 11 ,2, 7t',w, 0', bell B,g,t,back to battery, sounding an alarm on said bell. In this case the bell is rung by the battery on its train, instead of by a battery on another train as first above mentioned. If the train were approaching in the opposite direction or from block No. 3, then the circuit would be from battery on the train or cab through its conductor 0, .2 70 113', w, 25 2,

k y, c to hell and thence to ground. When the switch is closed conductors ac, 0 a, are thrown out of contact with the track conductors so that no alarm is sounded.

For the purpose of signaling to and from a train or trains to and from a station, and also for the purpose of ascertaining whether an alarm sounded is caused by a train or by an open switch, I construct a switch according to Figs. 4 and 5; the switch board shown interposed in circuit between the battery and bell and the cab or train and with a battery and bell in a station. The batteries, bells, switch board and connections of the trains and station are identical in construction and operation.

The switch board shown in Fig. 5, which I will describe with reference to a station, differs somewhat in minor details, such as the location of the binding posts, butin principle and mode of operation they are alike.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the station is shown as being located in block No. 2, and provided with a battery P, and bell B. This switch board comprises a circular plate or disk H, of non conducting material having arranged in pairs in a concentric circle, a number of conducting plates 1--2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 910, 1112, 13-14, and 18-19, and also three similar plates 15-1617. The letters V, W, X, Y, and Z, designate binding posts. Pivoted to this disk at the center thereof is a segment or arm H of noncondueting material, provided near its edge at the center and near each end with conductors a, b, c, which are adapted to connect any of said plates 12, 8150., together when placed over the same. Connected with the battery conductor z, is a conductor 1;, leading to binding post Y, from which extend conductors leading, respectively, to plates 6, 8, and 16. Connected with conductors y is a conductor u, leading to binding post Z from which extend conductors it, 11. a leading respectively to plates 4, 11, and 15. Connected with conductor a," is a conductor 11:, leading to binding postX from which extend conductors w, 10 10 and 10 leading respectively to plates 2, 10, 13 and 17. Leading from binding post W is a conductor M connected with the bell, and conductors to, w w, w", to leading respectively to plates 1, 3, 9, 12, 14 and 18. Connected with binding post V, is a conductor N connected with battery P, and conductors v, 12 v leading respectively to plates 5 and 7 and 19.

The operation of the switch board is as follows:--When in normal position the segment arm of key is in the position shown in Fig. 5, with the blocks a, b and a connecting respectively the plates l-2, 34 and 5-6. It now a train approaches the station from the south or No. lblock, an alarm will be sounded on the train, the circuit being from battery in station conductors N, V, v, 5, c, 6, '1), Y, o, z, 70', m, to bell in car to ground. Atthe same time the bell in station will be sounded,

the circuit being from battery: on train to 2, h, y, u, Z, M, 4., b, 3, w, W, M, to bell and to ground. If the train approaches on the north or No.3 block, the circuits will be from 5 battery in station to N, V, '0 5, c, 6, v, '0, M,

g to bell on train and ground, and from battery on train to 2 as, to, X, w, 2, a, 1, M, W,

M, to bell in station and ground.

To ascertain from which direction the train is approaching, the operator swings the segment arm to the right breaking the connec- -tion with 1 and 2, thus cutting out the north or No. 3 block. If the bell now stops ringing, the operator will know that the alarm was sounded from a train on said block; but if on the contrary, the bell continues to ring he will know that it is sounded from a train onblock No. 1, or south block, or from an open switch. To ascertain whether the alarm is causedby a train on block No. 1, or an open switch, the operator turns the segment arm or key still farther and cuts out 3 and 4:, or No. 1 block. If the bell now stops ringing the alarm was caused by a train on block No. 1, but if it still continues to ring it was caused by an open switch. The circuit will now be. from battery in station to N, V, '0 5,0, 6, r, [U7 y X) 7 019: W, r bell in station to ground; To cut out the sta- 0 tion battery so as to allow the station bell to be sounded from the train without an alarm being sounded in the train, the segment arm is moved so that the blocks a, b, 0, will connect respectively plates 9-10, l112, and 5 1314, cutting out entirely the station battery. Signals may now be sent from a train on block No. 3, the circuit being from battery on train to 2 70 w, X, 10 13, c, 14, 10 W, M, to bell and ground. To signal from No. 1 4o block the circuit would be from battery to z, h, y, a, Z, 11. 11, b, 12, W, M, to bell and ground. By placing one of the blocks over 15, 16, 17, it acts as "a danger key sending alarms to trains approaching in either direction, the circuit being from battery in train on block No. 1, to 2, h, g, 11., Z, u 15, b, 16,

21 Y, o, z, k, x to bell on train to ground.

To signal a train on block No. 3, the circuit will be from battery on train to 2 I0 00', w, X, 111 17, 16, Y, o, 2', h f, to bell on train and ground.

.When the key or segment arm is turned to point marked Cut out on the switch board the station andtrains are entirely'cut out.

The plates 18 and 19 are used for testing whether the mechanism is in proper working order. By placing one of the blocks of the key, say 6, over the same, so as to electrically connect them together, all of the conductors are cut out exceptthe battery and bell. The circuit in thiscase will be from battery to N, N, 11 19, b, 18, *0, W, M, to

f bell and ground.

.While Ihave described the switch board as being used in connection with a station, it is obvious that it can' be used on a train and operated in a similar manner to signal to a Y of two trains entering upon ablock at exactly station or to another train, as will be readily" understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. In Fig. 6, l have shown my improvements applied to a crossing of two railroads, both when only one of the roads is provided with the system and when both the roads are-provided with it.

If only one of the roads is provided with the system then on that road, near its j unction with the other road, the track conductors are carried to one side, and three short conductors 35, 35, and 36, electrically connected together are inserted between the rails, at the bend formed by the turning aside of said main conductors. This will be clearly seen in Fig. 6. As the train approaches the crossing the battery conductor thereof will contact with the central conductor and the bell conductors with the side conductors, thus completing the circuit, between the battery and bell and ringing an alarm notifying the engineer that the train is approaching a crossing. The circuit will be from battery and its conductor and brush, to central conduetor 36, then by end connections 37, to side conductors 35, then to bell conductors of the train to bell and thence to ground. As soon as the train passes the short conductors so that the brushes will be out of contact-therewith, the bell will stop ringing. When the other track or road is provided with the improvements the construction and operation will be the same in every respect. These short conductors inay'also be placed at the approaches of bridges and other places, and any number of them can be inserted, and by varying their length making some of them long and some short, the bells may be made to sound a long or short alarm as the case may be. .By properly arranging these short conductors difierent combinations of letters may be sounded after the manner of the Morse alphabet. For example, the letter A may be signaled by makinga short and long inserted block, which shall give a short and a long ring to the bell of the train passing over it. The letter B may be sounded bya reverse arrangement, the bell given a long and then a short ring. These different signals will represent different places. For instance, letter A may indicate the approach to a bridge and letter B a road crossing. Permanent signals where a stop is always necessary are made by inserting these short conductors or blocks. When intersecting roads occur both of which roads are provided with my improvements the blocks of the main tracks of each road, are located away from the crossing and within stopping distance of the crossing, or the conductors one each side of the crossing are carried over on poles.

In order to prevent there beinga possibility I O the same instant the conductors at the end 3 of the block overlap or pass by each other a short distance.

When a, short block is inserted theextra j r i r inner ends by a swivel. Byrthis constructiou i I g the platesmay swing-back and-forth, so as to conductors run beside the track. i

I willnow proceed to describe in detail the i construction of the trackcondnctors and train conductors.

i i Referring to Figs; 8 and 9,-the numerals 1, designate brackets depending from theunder side ota car to the lower-ends of which ispiv l oted. a plate 3" carrying at each end a downwardly depending plate 8.- These: plates are con-necte'dby an adjustable rod'9 pivotedateach end to said platesand connected attheir i allow any obstruction-on the tracktoraisethe l entire brush 10fr om the condnctors and per-- mit the obstruction to; pass; a The brush con-.

sists of a fiat chain secu red at each endto said plates 8 and 'providedwith downwardly de-- pending pins3l, which form contact: points withthe track 'conduotorst There-are three of these brushes employed one'ach engine or ears one for eachof the track conductors: These chains'or brushes consist-of a number with which the conductors leading tothe'said brushes areeonnected. in g-to the central binding post is connected 3.

with the battery of the locomotive, whilethe others are connected with the bells;

The track conductors are secured to the rails as follows: The numeral13 designates a bracket passing under the rail and secured by means of a screw 14. 30 is a block inserted between the bracket and rail. This bracket is formed with an extension provided with an insulating plate 25, upon which the track conductors are supported with insulating blocks 21, 22,23,24,interposed between the brackets and conductors. The numeral 19 designates a binding screw and 20 a plate working on the reduced end of plate 25, by which the insulating plates and conductors are held in place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an electrical signaling device for block system railways, the combination with the three parallel track conductors for each block, the central one of each block being electrically connected with one of the conductors of each adjacent block at opposite sides of said central conductor, of the conductors carried bya car, one of which is connected with a battery on the car and said central track conductor and the others connected with a bell in said car and with said side track conductors, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an electrical signaling device for block system railways, the combination with the three parallel track conductors for each block, the central one of each block being electrically said battery and scribed. r. In an electricalsignaling devicefor block system railways, the combination with the three paralleltrack conductors for each-block,

T he'conductor lead:

board. interposed between and in circuit with connected with one of the conductors of each i adjacent blockatopposite sides of said central conductor, of the conductors carried by acar. one of: which-is connected: with a batteryon I the car and-said central track conductor. and the others connected with abell in said car I andwith side: trackconductorsanda switch r r r bell, substantially as do the central one of each block beingelectrically r connected. withone of the conductors of each r adjacent block at opposite sides of said central i conductor, of theconductors carried-by a car, I one of which is connected with a 'batteryon the car andsaid central track conductor and vthe others connected with. a bell in said-car: I and with said side trackconductorsthe switch I v boardinterposed.between and in circuitwith said battery and bell, ,thezconductors connected with said track conductors. and leadingto :a station and: the batteryand bell: connected i p with said station conductors, substantially as described. g of-i in'ks 32-,connectcd togetherby pins-33, and i S ldesignat-es pins from which the contactpins.

or fingers 31 are 'susp-ended'.- The numeral 11? designates binding posts one to each brush,

4. lnian electricalsignalingdevicefor block cally connected with one ofthe conductors of each, adjacentblock at. opposite sides of said central conductor, of the condnctors carried p 7 by-a car, one of which isv connected with a.

: battery on thecar and-said central track co-nr ductor andthe others connected with a bell in said car and with said side track conductors, the switch board interposed between and in circuit with said battery and bell, the conductors connected with said track conductors and leading to a station, the battery and bell connected with said station conductors and a switch board interposed between and in circuit with said station battery and bell, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the electrical track conductors, of the electrical brushes carried by a car and comprising a series of pins strung upon pivoted links connected with pendent side plates, the rods pivoted to said side plates and their inner ends connected together by a swivel or turnbuckle, to permit the brush to readily free itself from obstructions, substantially as described.

6. In an electrical signaling device for block system railways, the combination with the three parallel track conductors for each block, the central one of each block being electrically connected with one of the conductors of each adjacent block at opposite sides of the central conductor, the brushes carried by a car, one of which is connected with a battery on the car and with said central track conductor and the others connected with a bell in said car and with said side track conductors, of the three short conductors, electrically 95- system railways, the combination with the three parallel track conductors for each block, the central one of each block. being. electrig connected to each other, and interposed at certain points where the said track conductors are deflected for such purpose, and so arranged that when the brushes of a car pass over the same, a circuit will be established, substantially as described.

7. In an electrical signaling device for block 7 system railways, the combination with the three parallel track conductors for each block, the centralone of each block being electrically connected with one of the conductors of each adjacent block at opposite sides of the central conductor, the brushes carried by a car, one of which is connected with a battery on the car and with said central track conductor, and the others connected with a WILLIAM A. PHILLIPS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. PAGE, R. L. HAMILTON. 

